Indians love their sweets. Desserts for us are more than just the last course of a meal, they are a symbol of joy, festivities and celebrations. Most of the sweets that we so excitedly consume are laden with milk and chhena. While there is nothing wrong with that, some people who are lactose intolerant or like me, just do not want to consume chhena are left with nothing but the same old jalebi or sooji ka halwa to eat during family feasts or festivals. But all you dessert lovers, let me introduce you to 5 delectable desserts that do not contain chhena and are the perfect sweet treats that you are seeking.
Narkoler Nadu
This dessert from West Bengal is a part of celebrations of major festivals of the state like Durga Pujo and Lokkhi Pujo. These sweet balls are made with coconut, sugar or jaggery and cardamom. They remind me of the hustle-bustle during Vijaya Dashami and my brother and I helping my mother in making these laddus. From grating the coconuts for hours to making the hot jaggery and coconut mixture into Nadu with my father’s help, the entire process was and when I am home, still is a wholesome family activity.
Ghevar
This honey-comb shaped dessert looks as delicious as it tastes. A traditional Rajasthani delicacy, Ghevar is especially consumed during Teej and Rakshabandhan. While there are varieties of Ghevar like malai Ghevar that uses milk and chhena, the original Ghevar stands uncontested, served with dry fruits and chandi ki parat. So, this Rakshabandhan, grab a bite of Ghevar instead of the regular Gulab Jamuns.
Picture credit : Instagram - @opulentfoodie
A gluten-free and vegan recipe, Banana Unniyappam is one of the most popular sweets of Kerala. They can be served as dessert or as a snack during breakfast or in the evening. These sweet fritters are made with coconut, jaggery, rice flour, banana and some spices like clove and cardamom. They are served in the temples and during Onam as Sadya too.
All these desserts are absolutely lip-smacking and will not let you miss any of those regular sweets made with Chhena. Some of these are only popular locally so there are chances you might not have had a chance to taste them. But trust me, all of these desserts are a must-try and along with being delicious, they are easy to prepare. So, the next time you do not want to have a Rasgulla or Cham cham, make yourself a Puran Poli or Unniyappam.
